Kangaroo Island first port of call for new SeaLink Travel Group CEO

ASX listed SeaLink Travel Group (SeaLink) has now completed the multi-million dollar acquisition of Transit Systems Group, and incoming Group CEO Clint Feuerherdt has made a visit to Kangaroo Island a priority.

PUBLISHED January 16, 2020

Visiting the island during his first week in the role, alongside retiring CEO Jeff Ellison, Adelaide resident Mr Feuerherdt committed SeaLink’s now international footprint to promoting the island and attracting visitors, with SeaLink operating the largest passenger and vehicle vessel from the mainland.

Last week, SeaLink Travel Group announced an initial support package worth half-a-million dollars for immediate support of the local community. This includes an initial $200,000 cash donation to the Kangaroo Island Mayoral Relief and Recovery Bushfire Fund, as well as free ferry travel to the value of $2000 per Kangaroo Island property, home or business destroyed by the bushfires.

SeaLink announced on 8 October 2019 the A$635 million acquisition of Transit Systems Group, including Tower Transit, creating a leading Australian multi-modal transport and tourism provider with established international operations in Singapore and London.

As part of the acquisition, Transit Systems Group CEO Clint Feuerherdt has started the New Year as the new Group CEO – taking the helm of the combined businesses.

Mr Feuerherdt said retiring SeaLink CEO and Managing Director, Jeff Ellison will remain involved in the business, as a non-executive director on the Board, continuing to share his extensive tourism and transport experience and knowledge.

With the sale completed on 16 January 2020, the combined group now has over 8,000 employees and operates more than 3,200 buses and 78 ferries with operations in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, London and Singapore.

“I became familiar with the SeaLink Travel Group in 2015 when SeaLink purchased Transit Systems’ marine operations at Stradbroke Island and Gladstone. Jeff and I saw a lot of potential in combining the businesses back then, but the timing wasn’t quite right.

“I wasn’t expecting my first week in the role to be so confronting and our thoughts remain with all of those affected by the bushfires. We will work alongside our operators and partners to ensure they have what they need during, and beyond, the recovery phase,” he said.

The two CEO’s will join forces on a national roadshow to meet and greet with the Group’s combined team.

Clint Feuerherdt will now report to the Board as the combined Group CEO, while Jeff Ellison has agreed to provide support to Clint for a short period of time as an executive director before continuing as a non-executive director to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.

ENDS

About SeaLink Travel Group (ASX:SLK)

Prior to the acquisition of Transit Systems Group, SeaLink Travel Group operated across New South Wales, Queensland, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania, with a vision to better connect people, creating brilliant travel experiences and memories. The Group moved over seven million customers each year. With the acquisition it has now expanded its area of operations into Victoria and internationally.

Internationally, the Group operates significant urban bus services in the Transport for London (TfL) network (Tower Transit), and in Singapore (Tower Transit Singapore) – bringing world best practice to local operations.

About Clint Feuerherdt

Group CEO, Clint Feuerherdt, BECom BCom (Hons). Clint assumed the role of Group CEO for SeaLink Travel Group in January 2020 after leading the Transit Systems Group for 10 years, growing revenue by over 300% during this time. In his time with Transit Systems, he was responsible for leading winning bids in the bus division, taking the business to the United Kingdom, and Singapore, and growing a substantial ferry business. In 2015, Clint oversaw the sale of Transit Systems Marine to SeaLink Travel Group. Clint graduated from the University of Queensland with an Honours Degree in Commerce and was awarded the University Medal. Drawing on executive level experience with some of Australia’s largest corporate entities, Clint will ensure that SeaLink maintains its position as one of Australia’s leading passenger transport and tourism providers.